Friday, April 17, 2009

Two Mercy Regional Emergency Medical Service ambulance workers have been fired, and the agency is cooperating with Paducah police on an investigation into possible unlawful distribution and use of prescription drugs.

Jamey Locke, Mercy’s director, confirmed that two employees he would not identify had been terminated but declined further comment, referring questions to attorney Ted Hutchins.

Hutchins said the two employees’ terminations were related to the internal invest-igation.

“Mercy Regional’s mission is to provide the best emergency health care available anywhere,” Hutchins wrote in a statement released Thursday. “Accordingly, any Mercy Regional employee found to have participated in unlawful drug activity will face termination of his or her employment under Mercy Regional’s drug and personnel policies.”

He said Mercy had contacted the Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services, which licenses and certifies emergency medical workers, but declined further comment.

The EMS board’s staff did not return phone messages seeking comment Thursday.

Paducah police Capt. Brandon Barnhill confirmed police are investigating the matter but
declined further comment, citing the ongoing investigation

As published in the Paducah Sun, April 17, 2009